I was interested to see what it would cost to learn to weld. Not as a professional career, but more of a "I think I want a grinder stand today and tomorrow I think I'll build a Locost..." type of thing.
A search for "Welding Classes, Tacoma, WA" yields programs with tuition ranging from $3500-$5600 
I was thinking something along the lines of $1500 but less would be better
Any ideas?
Also: thoughts on just buying a MIG and playing in the garage instead?
My local tech college offers exactly what you've already found - but they also offer the individual modules under their continuing education curriculum. So that 4k program now becomes a intro to MIG course which costs $600 and runs three nights a week for two months.
So check your local tech schools night classes and continuing education programs.
Check out local community schools. I did that a few years ago and had a very good and worthwhile time. You will be exposed to all types of welding equipment, and if you go to night classes you will be with adults. The teachers MUCH prefer dealing with grown ups. Not a great place to meet chicks, but I did meet some very interesting people. Cost was under 500.00 if I remember right. Basically just covering the cost of expendables and metal.
My local community college taught me to mig for 65 bucks and two nights a week for six months. Just call their continuing ed part and ask. Google usually don't work for community college classes.
I've got Tacoma Community college just down the road, I'll have to give them a shout. $500 to $600 is much more what I was looking to spend.
Thanks
Ninja edit: $65!?! Holy crap, that is awesome!
Odds are a local Community or Technical College has a night class. Isn't Bates Technical College in/outside of Tacoma? That'd be my first call. I'll bet they offer something along those lines.
I took an "Intro to Machining" course at the CC near my home town just after High School. A lot of the guys in there had been through the course multiple times and just paid the tuition as a cheap(ish) way to have access to machine tools for personal projects. I would assume the same is true for the welding courses.
Edit: I type way too slow, apparently.
Hungary Bill, come over to my house sometime. I live in Gig Harbor, about 20-30 minutes from you and I'd be happy to teach you to mig and tig. Throw in a few bucks for materials, and we're good. Email me for more.
I took an evening class at the local technical college a few years back, it was quite inexpensive and a lot of fun. It was one night a week for ten weeks. There's a lot to be said for learning how to weld with quality equipment while being taught by an experienced instructor, you won't pick up bad habits or techniques you have to un-learn later.
In my case, it took a while to find the class - it was kind of hidden in the back of the school's course catalog. So, do some more research and you'll probably find something in your area.
message sent 
Bates was one that had a "Program" but it was to the tune of $5000+. I haven't called to see if they had "nickel and dime" program yet though. I never thought about going to school just to use the equipment! That's genius!!! I wonder if I could use that same technique to paint my Alfa 
I took mig and tig classes at the local Vocational High School at night for about $400.
Hungary Bill wrote: I've got Tacoma Community college just down the road, I'll have to give them a shout. $500 to $600 is much more what I was looking to spend. Thanks Ninja edit: $65!?! Holy crap, that is awesome!
same thing here … I've taken the class (met once a week for the entire summer semester) … I'll probably take it again and maybe a third time
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